Counterfeit Pressure Reducing Angle Hose Valve

Alert Summary

FM Approvals has been made aware of the existence of pressure reducing angle hose valves bearing a counterfeit FM Approvals marking. The counterfeit valves were found in Colombia, South America.

Description

1 ½ in. pressure reducing angle hose valve

Make/Model

Unknown manufacturer.

Nameplate Data

Product is labeled with the names “Griven,” “Giacomini” and the presumed model designation “A156”.

Hazard Involved

The products in question are angle hose valves used to initiate and cease water flow to hose lines for manual firefighting operations. The valve stem is equipped with a mechanical device that can limit how far the valve is opened and reduce the flow pressure to the hose line. The counterfeit products bear the FM Approvals mark, despite that they have never been tested. Safety concerns of untested angle hose valves include but are not limited to the strength of the valve body and valve stem, the leak resistance of the valve seat, the leak resistance of the stem seal and the correct operation of the pressure reducing device.
The product was not manufactured by Giacomini S.p.A.

Using This Product?

If you suspect you are in possession of any of the affected equipment listed above bearing the FM Approvals certification marking, please bring that to the attention of:

Figure 1 below show a profile view of the valve identified as counterfeit on the left and an authentic Giacomini A156 valve on the right. The yellow arrow indicates the counterfeit FM Approvals mark; the valve is not FM Approved and has never been tested by FM Approvals. The name “GRIVEN” is cast into the valve body. The significance of the name is unknown; however, the authentic valve by Giacomini does not have this marking. The authentic valve also uses the label “PRESSURING RESTRICTING VALVE” whereas the wording on the counterfeit valve reads “PRESSURE REDUCING DEVICE.”

Figure 2 below shows the opposite profiles of both the counterfeit valve (left) and an authentic Giacomini valve (right). The model designation used on the authentic Giacomini valve, “A156,” also appears on the body of the counterfeit valve. The manufacturing location of authentic Giacomini valves, “ITALY,” is also cast into the counterfeit valve body, although on the authentic valve the full phrase reads “MADE IN ITALY.”

Figure 3 below shows the product data sheet that was found with the counterfeit valve. Another counterfeit version of the FM Approvals marking is printed on the product datasheet, indicated by the yellow arrow.

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